COUNTRY NEWS

Bay of Plenty Times, 8 February 1879, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS

(FROM OUR OWN COI.IIE_PO_.DE-._.i.)

WHAKATANE.

I'LOUR MILL,

February 5. On the Ist inst. Messrs Brabant and Preece,^ R M.'s attended a native meeting at this place, for the purpose.of. coming to an understanding* as to Avhat the Government would do towards assisting in.the erection of a., flour, mill at Whakatane. Lit. may be. explained that the two separate tribes here ,{Ng-,tipiikekos: and Ngatiawas) desired' each to have a mill ; but as it seemed, in the opinion of all the settler.., and of the Government, ridiculous to have two mills in a place where there could not be anything like full employment for ono, we have all been exerting our influence/ £ur eloquenoe, and our best argument., in trying to get the two tribes to ■'iOii-Js^ , SS^^^h > ce i -^eotiiig Mr Braban t " c^Tp'Jlncd'*'''' ti^Q.t't'-ic '( t _f4_-v^'irJftßa._Jiit had bought ■. tlfe pM flax U" 11 site for £20O^pi?ja .flour mill ,\s?t'e,' an d woUlcl' lay "cl6wii''p*otod!'^p. -pouiidj -b_3id.es ji'^ne natives woid4V«o^hia_^iid havcphe'.mill in common." "' The arguments; • brongbt 'fory,;^r<.*ngaiiist this" haiic_.o'me pr^-ti pdsal were purely of ;'&.; Maori character, and j show decidedly, . to th'p'rribst enthusiastic | philb-Maori, that Maoris, so long as they- live in tribes, and not in families, will never be . accessible to progress or any civilizing influences. The' former condition of society is only useful for warlike or lawless tribes, but the family tie is the ' oldest of earthly insti-tutions,-was formed by God ih Paradise, and is .best suibablo for peaceful, progressive times. . The -result of the deliberation is that each tribe is to take its own way, and build a mill •for itself, the Government to make a limited contribution as the work progresses. . .As regards the more important work of. providing grist for the mill or mills, it may here be noted that only one of the tribes (the Ngatipukeko) has given this year any extent of wheat crop. Only one settler ha. been growing wheat for these few years past, and life has' this, year a very heavy crop. of six or. seven acres of the best land in the district. ! TAX GATHERING AND ROAD MAKING.We have had quite an influx of land tax and agricultural statistic collectors of late, this being the season of the year when treasurers lay their plans for tlie governing of the country as far a§ regards money matters. We . have also' had ... visit from a distinguished official of the County Council, who has been , traversing the bad. roads of ..our outlying districts.;. In a public point of view it may be regretted that he 'diij not lose his horse in .one of the, hog' hole's along the Te Teko and Whakatane Road. This road, was commenced five years a^o by the. Public Work's Department, and all that, is wanted how is the erectipn pf about a dozen small culverts or box drains, the tinipcr. for which is already on the ground , at the end of the r<?ad. It is "to be hoped, that M!r 'JJ.iphard.s , will, make a very forcible report to.. the County Council as 'to the strong necessity there exists for having this work completed at once. As regards the roads in the Whakatane Highway District, it may safely be asserted that very [ greitt improvements have been effected this ! fmnimer ; but that' there is still work to be ! done before the fine weather comes to a | close. P OB LIC BUIJ.r.IN«S. i The Wliakatane Hotel is beginning to loom i large in our little village, and will, when ' finished, be. second to none on this coast. I Let us hope that "it will prove a remunerative speculation to the enterprizing proprietor. It would very appropriately be called the Whakatane Comity Hotel,, to remind travellers, especially those hailing from Opotiki, that thia is the county town. The Telegraph Office proposed to be erected is still undecided upon.' "'lt is to be hoped that Government will not neglect to provide an appropriation during the next session of the Assembly.